Mount Evans Highway is open for the season
News Release
CLEAR CREEK COUNTY — Mount Evans Highway (Colorado Highway 5) is open to the public for the season as of 8 a.m. Friday, June 4. CDOT crews worked throughout the month of May clearing snow along the 15-mile highway from the gates at Echo Lake Lodge to the summit of Mount Evans (14,264 feet), which is the highest paved road in North America. Click here to view some photos of the plowing process this year.
Please note, the USDA Forest Service is requiring motorists to Mount Evans Recreation Area to make reservations through Recreation.gov this season. Reservations are not required for people who are biking or hiking up the roadway.
"The online reservation system will help alleviate significant wear and tear on the Mount Evans road and surrounding ecosystem. Please be ready for this necessary change from the USDA Forest Service,” said CDOT Executive Director Shoshana Lew.
Stay Informed
Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts, anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:
-
Road conditions and travel information: COtrip.org
-
Project or travel alerts: bit.ly/COalerts
-
Social media: Twitter @coloradodot and Facebook facebook.com/coloradodot
About CDOT
CDOT’s Whole System-Whole Safety program has one simple mission — to get everyone home safely. Our approximately 3,000 employees work tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. The department manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,000 bridges and 35 mountain passes. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also operates Bustang, the state-owned interregional express bus service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options.
